Cincinnati Reds news: Eugenio Suárez slated to return this week

The Cincinnati Reds received some great news on Monday, with David Bell announcing Eugenio Suárez’s return to the lineup later this week.

Reds fans got some great news on Monday afternoon following the announcement from manager David Bell that Eugenio Suárez is scheduled to return to the Cincinnati lineup on Friday. According to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Suárez will be the Cincinnati Reds designated hitter against the Colorado Rockies.

Ever since the news broke earlier this offseason, Reds Country has been on pins and needles waiting to hear when Geno might make his spring debut. It was announced this winter that Suárez injured his shoulder in a pool accident and would need surgery. It was thought that the injury may have kept the team’s home run leader out of the Opening Day lineup.

That’s still possible, as Suárez will only be hitting in his role as the team’s DH. However, that’s still fantastic news given the prognosis from earlier this offseason. According to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, Eugenio Suárez began a light throwing program back near the end of February and was taking full batting practice on the field with his teammates this past weekend.

This news couldn’t have come at a better time, as two of the Reds infielders have been sidelined recently with injuries. Freddy Galvis, who’d seen action earlier this spring as a designated hitter, has been shelved with a quad injury. The Reds shortstop is hopeful to find his way back onto the field very soon.

Another injury befell one of the up-and-coming young infielders, as Josh VanMeter will miss at least three to four days. According to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon, VanMeter has had pain in the anterior muscle near the shin on his left leg since the weekend series with the Chicago Cubs in Las Vegas.

Getting Eugenio Suárez some regular reps will certainly help the Cincinnati Reds regardless of whether or not he’s ready to go on Opening Day. Suárez will be a key piece of the revamped lineup this season, with Shogo Akiyama, Nick Castellanos and Mike Moustakas joining the Reds over the the offseason.